Safety device for roofers



p 1933- J. R. LANCASTER ET AL 1,926,488

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ROOFERS Filed March 30, 19.32

7 Lanca'f f'.

J 3 Ward Patented Sept; 12, g

SAFETY DEVICE FOR noornns I John R. Lancaster and-Johnathan B; Ward,

Goldsboro, N. 0.

The object of this invention isto provide an I device provided for the support of the workmen.

. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully described and particularly defined.

In the accompanyingdrawing Figure'1 is a plan view of a portion of a hip roof showing the improved anchoring device in position thereonl anda ladder held by the anchoring device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the-device removed from the roof,

go; 7 Fig. 3 is an edge view of the anchor, 3

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

' The reference numeral 1 indicates a portion of a tin roof and the numeral 2 indicates an up:- standing seam or flange whichextends over the roof and is formed in the process of laying the metal. In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a base bar 3 which is preferably of some substantial weight and is adapted to lie fiat upon the roof against one side of the seam "to; or flange, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. Upon this base bar, adjacent the ends thereof, are q secured blocks or arms 4 which project laterally from the bar and are intended to extend over the flange oriseam, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, each B5 arm being provided in its underside with a notch 5 whereby it may fit closely to the seam or flange. Pivoted' to the ends of the respective arms 4 are levers 6 which extend in the same direction. from their respective pivots, as shown in Fig. 2, and

g4Q; have the ends of their shorter arms provided with enlargements or flanges 7 of arcuate form whereby they are adapted to rock upon the side of the flange or seam 2 and bear against the same, as will be understood upon reference to Figs. 2 and4. The ends of thelonger armsof these levers are pivoted to a parallel bar 8 which may, beof the same width and thickness as the base bar'3 but is preferably somewhat longer than the base bar, the ends of the parallel bar 5.0; being turned upwardly, as shown at 9, whereby they will avoid contact with the roof. ,A coiled 'retractile spring 10 is anchored at one end upon a bolt or stud 11 rising from one .of the arms or blocks 4 and at its opposite end is anchored L; upon a bolt 12 rising from the parallel bar, as

thesupport will hold the clamping means inop- ;clearly shown. hbolt or other fastening or.

, in Fig. 1, a cable 15 is secured at one end about the bolt 13 which is atthe lower end of the par- H allel bar and aladder l6 isfastened to said cable so that it; will be suspended from the anchoring device. In the use of the device, the parallel 5, bar is swung toward the base bar against the tension of the spring 10 sothat thelevers 6 will be rocked about their fulcrums and their curved ends will be caused to recede from the base bar whereupon the tool may be placed in position .7 upon the roof withthe seam orflange between the base bar and the arcuate' ends of the levers, as shown in' Figs. l and 4. The'parallel bar is then released and the spring 10 at once contracts sov that the levers will be swung in the opposite 1 direction and their arcuate ends caused to'grip the flange or seam 2' and bind the same'against the base bar. This action is reinforced by theweight of the ladder or platform which is suspended from; I the lower endof the parallel bar and, of course, 8Q

. acts upon the seam in the same man that the retractile spring acts thereon. Under some conditions, it may be desirable to place the anchoring device below the. support for the workmen in which event the end of the ladder or other support may be fastened firmly to the parallelban by fa'bolt or other device inserted through the support and through the opening 14. The weight of thesupport will then push the parallel bar downward so that the levers will be swung into 9Q clamping engagement withthe flange of the roof, as before described' l I l From the foregoing description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, it will beseen that we have provided an exceedingly $35,. simple and compact tool which may be readily applied to a roof and which will effectually hold a support for the roofer and permit himto proceed with hiswork without fear ofialling Having thus 'described the invention, we claim: 1. 'An anchoring device comprising a base bar, 7 means for clamping the base bar against a roof seam, means forconnecting a workmans support with said clamping means whereby the weight of l erative position, and means for holding the clamping means in engagement with the roof seam when the weight of the support is-removed therefrom.

- same against 'the base bar. V I

3. Means for the purpose set forth comprising a base bar adapted to rest against one side of a roofing seam, arms rigid upon said base bar and with the base bar and provided with gripping portions whereby weight imposed. upon the parf allel bar will cause the gripping portions of the levers to-engage the'roofing seam and clamp the extending laterally therefrom over the roofing seam, levers iulcrumed upon said arms and having arcuate ends adapted to bear against the side of the roofing seam and clamp the same against the basebar; aparallel bar pivoted to the opposite ends of the'levers whereby Weight applied to said bar will cause the levers vto clamp the roof seam,

and a retractile springiattached to the parallel bar and to the base bar tending constantly to holdthe levers in seam-clamping position.

I 7 JOHN R; LANCASTER. '['L.S.]' JOHNATHAN B. WARD. [L. s.l 

